“On December 13, 2019, from 22.41 to 22.48 [13.41-13.48 GMT], another important test was conducted at the Sohae cosmodrome. Our defence scientists were very honoured to receive warm congratulations from the party’s central committee. The results in defence, which we achieve one by another recently, will be used to raise the reliable strategic nuclear deterrence potential of North Korea to another new level," a spokesman for the academy said in a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The information that North Korea has collected during its latest missile test will be used to deter the nuclear threat from the United States, Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army Pak Jong Chon said in a statement circulated by the Korean Central News Agency on Saturday.
"The priceless data, experience and new technologies gained in the recent tests of defence science research will be fully applied to the development of another strategic weapon of the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] for definitely and reliably restraining and overpowering the nuclear threat of the US," the statement read.
He went on to say that the US and other hostile states will spend the year-end in peace only when they hold off words and deeds that rattle Pyongyang.
In November, North Korea fired two short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast, marking the fourth test of its "super-large multiple-rocket launcher." The test came as the year-end deadline set by North Korea for the US to show flexibility in the stalled denuclearisation talks is fast-approaching.